Phenoxyldialkyl acetic acids and esters

ABSTRACT

The present invention encompasses compounds of the formula    &lt;IMAGE&gt; (I)  wherein R1 and R2 are independently an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 2 carbon atoms and R3 is hydrogen or an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, sodium, potassium, or ammonium cation. The compounds of the present invention are prepared by the condensation of alkyl(4-formylphenoxy)-2,2-dialkylacetate with acetophenone in basic medium. These compounds are potent hypolipemic agents as well as antifungal and antibacterial agents.

The present invention encompasses compounds of the formula ##STR2## wherein R¹ and R² are independently an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 2 carbon atoms, and R³ is hydrogen or an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, sodium, potassium, or ammonium cation.

The alkyl radicals containing from 1 to 2 carbon atoms denoted in the above formula are methyl or ethyl.

The alkyl radicals containing from 1 to 7 carbon atoms denoted in the above formula are examplified by methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, and the branch chain isomers thereof.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is represented by the formula ##STR3## wherein R³ is defined as hereinbefore.

The compounds of the present invention are structurally distinct from compounds of the most closely related art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,558,612 describes 4-(arylcarbonylalkanyl)phenoxyacetic acid derivatives. The compounds of the present invention are particularly distinct from the compounds in U.S. Pat. No. 3,558,612 in that the compounds in the present invention are derivatives of dialkylacetic acid instead of acetic acid.

Compounds of the present invention are conveniently prepared as set out in Scheme I wherein R¹, R² and R³ are as previously defined. ##STR4##

Thus, the condensation of alkyl(4-formylphenoxy)-2,2-dialkylacetate described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,842,120 with acetophenone in basic medium provides compounds of the present invention.

In this manner 7.1 parts of ethyl(4-formylphenoxy)-2,2-dimethylacetate and 4.7 parts of acetophenone in 10 parts by volume of ethanol containing 0.01 part of sodium ethyl are reacted for 2 hours. This reaction mixture is quenched with 100 parts of cold water and extracted with ether. The ether extracts are dried over magnesium sulfate. Filtration of the magnesium sulfate, removal of ether by evaporation at reduced pressure and column chromatography on silica gel provides ethyl 2-[4-(2-benzoylethenyl)phenoxy]-2,2-dimethylacetate melting at 68°to 70° C. Treatment of this ester with alcoholic potassium hydroxide for 2 hours, followed by extraction with ether, and acidification with dilute hydrochloric acid provides a precipitate which is 2-[4-(2-benzoylethenyl)phenoxy]-2,2-dimethylacetic acid.

Hypolipemic activity of compounds of the present invention are illustrated by the following test:

The oral hypolipemic activity of ethyl 2-[4-(2-benzoylethenyl)phenoxy]-2,2-dimethylacetate was evaluated in the male rat using clofibrate salt under the trademark of Atromid-S® as a reference compound.

Male rats of the COBS-CD strain from Charles River Breeding Laboratories were used in this test. Rats weighed between 300 and 360 grams initially and were fed Purina Rat Chow®. Rats were housed in pairs and allowed free access to food and water.

Male rats were divided into groups of eight rats. Ethyl 2-[4-(2-benzoylethenyl)phenoxyl]-2,2-dimethylacetate in propylene glycol, was administered intragastrically at the dose of 150 mg/kg/day once daily for 6 days to a group of rats. A control group of rats received only propylene glycol. On the last day of treatment, all rats were fasted overnight prior to collection of blood from the abdominal aorta. Blood serum was analyzed for serum total cholesterol (1) and triglyceride (2). Test results were evaluated in the two-tailed Student's t-test to determine whether differences for cholesterol and triglyceride from treated and control groups of rats were statistically significant at the p≦ 0.05 level. Data are represented in Table I for serum total cholesterol and triglyceride for ethyl 2-[4-(2-benzoylethenyl)phenoxy]-2,2-dimethylacetate and the sodium salt of Atromid-S®. Results are presented as percent of control which has been set at 100%. The results indicate that ether 2-[4-(2-benzoylethyl)phenoxy]-2,2-dimethylacetate exhibits oral lipid lowering activity in the male rat at a dose of 150 mg/kg/day.

                  Table 1                                                          ______________________________________                                          Effect of Ethyl 2-[4-(2-benzoylethenyl)phenoxy]-                              2,2-dimethylacetate and Atromid-S Na Salt, on Blood Serum                      Total Cholesterol and Triglyceride on Rats                                                      Blood Serum Lipids                                                        Dose       Cholesterol                                                                               Triglyceride                                 Treatment   mg/kg/day  %.sup.a    %                                            ______________________________________                                         Control     --         100        100                                          Ethyl 2-[ 4-(2-                                                                benzoylethenyl)-                                                               phenoxy]-2,2-                                                                  dimethylacetate                                                                            150        75.sup.b   59.sup.b                                     Control     --         100        100                                          Atromid-S                                                                      Salt        100        74.sup.b    97                                          ______________________________________                                          .sup.a Results are expressed as percent of control with the control value      designated as 100%                                                             .sup.b Statistically significant difference from control at p ≦         0.05                                                                     

Further indication of hypolipemic utility of the compounds of the present invention is their ability to inhibit in vitro the conversion of ¹⁴ C-hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA to ¹⁴ C-mevalonolactone. For example, ethyl 2-[4-(2-benzoylethenyl)phenoxy]-2,2-dimethylacetate inhibits this conversion by 61% as compared to controls at 10⁻³ molar.

In addition, compounds of the present invention inhibit in vitro the incorporation of ¹⁴ C-acetate into lipids, non-suponifiable steriles, and fatty acids. For example, the above compound inhibits 70% as compared to controls at 10⁻³ molar.

In addition, compounds of the present invention are antibacterial and antifungal as evidenced by their activity against Erwinia and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, respectively. Thus, ethyl 2-[4-(2-benzoylethenyl)phenoxy]-2,2-dimethylacetate prevents growth of Erwinia during an incubation period of 24 hours at 37° C. at 1000 mcg/ml and prevents growth of Trichophyton mentagrophytes during an incubation period of between 5 and 7 at 1000 mcg/ml.

Undecylenic acid, a clinically useful antifungal, is active against Trichophyton mentagrophytes under similar conditions.

The following examples are presented to further illustrate the present invention. They should not be construed as limiting it either in spirit or in scope. In these examples quantities are indicated in parts by weight unless parts by volume is specified, and temperatures are indicated in degrees Centigrade (°C.). The relationship between parts by weight and parts by volume is the same as that existing between grams and milliliters.

EXAMPLE 1

7.1 Parts of ethyl (4-formylphenoxy)-2,2-dimethylacetate described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,842,120 and 4.7 parts of acetophenone in 10 parts by volume of ethanol containing 0.01 part of sodium ethyl are reacted for 2 hours. This reaction mixture is quenched with 100 parts of cold water and extracted with ether. The ether extracts are dried over magnesium sulfate. Filtration of the magnesium sulfate, removal of the ether by evaporation at reduced pressure, and column chromatography on silica gel provides ethyl 2-[4-(2-benzoylethenyl)phenoxy]-2,2-dimethylacetate, melting at 68° to 70° C. This compound has the following structural formula ##STR5##

Treatment of the above ester with alcoholic potassium hydroxide for 2 hours, following by extraction with ether, and acidification with dilute hydrochloric acid provides a precipitate which is 2-[4-(2-benzoylethenyl)phenoxyl]-2,2-dimethylacetic acid. This compound has the following structural formula ##STR6##

Titration of the above acid with sodium, potassium, or ammonium hydroxide provides the corresponding acid salt.

Reaction of the above acid with diazomethane provides methyl 2-[4-(2-benzoylethenyl)phenoxy]-2,2-dimethylacetate.

EXAMPLE 2

Substitution of an equivalent quantity of ethyl (4-formylphenoxy)-2-ethyl-2-methylacetate for ethyl (4-formylphenoxy)-2,2-dimethylacetate called for in Example 1 and substantial repetition of the procedures detailed therein provides ethyl 2-[4-(2-benzoylethenyl)phenoxy]-2-ethyl-2-methylacetate. This compound has the following structural formula ##STR7##

EXAMPLE 3

Substitution of an equivalent quantity of ethyl (4-formylphenoxy)-2,2-diethylacetate for ethyl (4-formylphenoxy)-2,2-dimethylacetate called for in Example 1 and substantial repetition of the procedure detailed therein provides ethyl 2-[4-(2-benzoylethenyl)phenoxy]-2,2-diethylacetate. This compound has the following structural formula ##STR8## 

What is claimed is:
 1. A compound of the formulawherein R¹ and R² are independently an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 2 carbon atoms, and R³ is hydrogen or an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, sodium, potassium, or ammonium
 2. A compound of the formula ##STR9## wherein R³ is hydrogen or an alkyl radical containing from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, sodium, potassium, or ammonium cation.
 3. A compound which is ethyl 2-[4-(2-benzoylethenyl)phenoxy]-2,2-dimethylacetate. 